The Story of Darcus Beese

Rarely in the UK music scene do we tell the stories of those behind the curtain, those who built the infrastructure enabling artists to thrive today. In the vast network of music executives and label heads, Darcus Beese’s name carries significant weight. 

Responsible for the careers of Amy Winehouse, Jessie J and Florence + The Machine, and having a hand in those of Drake, Nicki Minaj and The Weeknd, Beese has kept his finger on UK music’s pulse, pinpointing diamonds and highlighting their strengths.

The son of the honourable Darcus Howe and Barbara Beese—both of whom were intimately involved in Britain’s Black Panther Party and members of the Mangrove Nine in the 1970s.

Beese brought the revolutionary zeal in his DNA to music boardrooms, first interning at Island Records as a teenager in the late 1980s.

Now Executive Vice President at Warner Music UK, with a new imprint of his own to boot, Beese’s impact on British music is tenfold.

From the critical and commercial success of the artists he’s championed to the OBE next to his name, honoured in 2014 by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to music.

Establishing a balance between complimenting the stars of today and nurturing those of tomorrow, Beese has been a model example of a trusted executive who gets it right.